Iron ore mining: VS seeks probe as party alleges smear campaign

Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan on Tuesday demanded an investigation into the circumstances in which permission was granted to mine iron ore in the environmentally sensitive Chakkittapara village in Kozhikode district.

Responding to questions from mediapersons here, Mr. Achuthanandan said an investigation could reveal the truth behind attempts to mine iron ore from the village located in the Western Ghats. He hoped that the government would order an investigation.

Special Correspondent writes from Kozhikode: The CPI(M) district secretariat on Tuesday dismissed as motivated and baseless the allegation against party secretariat member and former Industries Minister Elamaram Karim about his role in granting permission for mining at Chakkittapara village to a private company from Karnataka and declared the party would be in the frontline to resist mining activities.

District secretary T.P. Ramakrishnan in a statement alleged it was part of a smear campaign against Mr. Karim. “It should be rejected outright,” Mr. Ramakrishnan said and added that the State government had no authority to grant mining rights.